Improvement in sail-releasing apparatus



@ni-teh tantrav stent ffice; i

GUST. OEHME, M. D., OF PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 72,320, oldted .Decemberl '17,v 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAIL-RELEASING APPARATUS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be itknown that I, F. G. OEHME, of Plymouth, in the county of Plymouth, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and improved Sail-Safe; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and'use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part oi' this specification. i

Figure 1 is a. side view of my improved apparatus. j

Figure 2 is an edge' view of the same, part being broken away .to show the construction.

Figure 8 is a detail cross-section of the same, taken through the line :v 9:, g. 2.

Similar le'tters of reference indicate corresponding parts; j

v My invention has for its object to prevent the capsizing of lsail-boats, by securing thesail with an apparatus which may bel set .so as to release the sail when the pressure has reached a certain amount, according to the pressure that the sail and boatv can bear; and it consists.V in connecting the sail to the boatby an apparatus formed by the combination of spiral springs, inclined planespa'nd double-acting hooks, as hereinafter more fullydescribed. I

A is a block, having an eye-bolt or ringattached to one end, by which it may be secured to the boat or sail.

The block A is perforated longitudinally, and in theA cavity thus formed are placed one or morecoiled springs, B, one end of which is attached tothe block A at the bottom of the cavity, and the other end or ends of which are attached to a plug, C, fitting and working in the open end of the said cavity. D is a pin passing through the .inn'er end of the plug C, and the ends of which 'extend out through slots in the' edges of the block A, as shown in iigs. 1, 2, and 3. i E is a block or plate, having flanges, el, formed upon its side edges, which overlap the edges of the block A, and which have tongues, e2, formed upon their inner sides, which enter and slide in grooves formed in theedges ofthe block A. Upon the side of the block A is formed a scale, graduated according to the number of pounds strain necessary to draw the .pinD to a positiony opposite to the various division 'marks of said scale. The lower edges of the anges e1 of the` block E are inclined, as shown in f1g. and the saidblock is secured to the block A by a set-screw, F, when properly adjusted. G is a; block placed upon the opposite sideof the block A from the block E, andA having flanges, g1, formed uponjits side edges, said flanges, having tongues, g2, formed upon their inner sides, which enter und work in grooves formed in the edges of the block A.' The forward part of the edges of the flanges g, for a little more than half the lengt-h ofy said anges is inclined,.as shownin iig. 2, and to the edges of the partof said flanges that is not inclined, ai-e attached springs H, the free ends of which project over the inclined parts of said iianges, as shown in tig. 2. The block G should'be adjusted in such a position that the mark I should be about opposite the pin D. J is a? block, having an eye-bolt or ring attached to one end, and having hooks, K, projecting from its other end, at sucha distance apa-rt that they may be placed one upon each edge ofthe block A, and may be hooked upon the projecting ends of the pin D, the springs H preventing the said. hooks from dropping out of placewlxen. no strain is upon the apparatus. The block E is adjusted tosuch a division of the scale as marks the pressure that the sail and boat kare able to bear witlrsai'ety. One cnd of the apparatus is secured to the boat, and the other end to the sail. When the pressure upon the sail becomes so great as to draw the pin D-beyond the division-mark to which the block E is adjusted, the ends of the hooks, K strike against the inclined edges of the ila'nges of the block E', and are pushed oli` the pin D, releasing the sail. j l

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Connecting the sail to the boat by means of an apparatus formed by the combination of inclined planes, spiral springs, and double-acting...hooks, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the perforated grooved and slotted block A, adjustable flanged blocks E and G, springs H, coiled' springor springs B, pin D, block J, and hooks K, with each other, substantially as herein shown and described,-and for the purpose set forth'. j

The above specification of my invention. signed by me', this 31st day of October, 1867.

' FEED. GUsT. OEHME, M. D.

Witnesses:

JonN B. WILSON. Enwn. BAKER. 

